Proverbs Walk Thru Chapter 11

November 11, 2010-Proverbs 11

In honor of Veterans Day, thank you to all the men and women who have served our country and continue to serve our country to keep us safe.  May God bless you for the sacrifices you make each day to protect us back here at home.  Thank you.

I loved this chapter in Proverbs and decided to do a fun word study because the words righteous(ness) and wicked(ness) kept popping up.  It was really cool to see how God used these two words to teach me the meaning of both righteousness and wickedness.  Here's my little word study below: (I had way too much fun with this!)


Righteous(ness)                                                 versus                                       Wicked(ness)

vs 4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death
vs 5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct                                        vs 5 but the wicked will fall by
his way aright                                                                                                     his own wickedness
vs 6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them                                   vs 6 But the unfaithful will be
                                                                                                                          caught by their lust
vs 8 The righteous is delivered from trouble                                                  vs 8And it comes to the wicked
                                                                                                                          instead
vs 9 But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered                           vs 9 the hypocrite with his 
                                                                                                                          mouth destroys his neighbor
vs 10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;                         vs 10 and when the wicked
                                                                                                                           perish, there is jubilation
vs 11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted                                   vs 11 But it is overthrown by the
                                                                                                                           mouth  of the wicked
vs 18 But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward                       vs 18 The wicked man does
                                                                                                                           deceptive work
vs 19 As righteousness leads to life                                                              vs 19 so he who pursues evil
                                                                                                                           pursues it to his own death
vs 21 But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered                               vs 21 Though they join forces
                                                                                                                            the wicked will not go
                                                                                                                            unpunished
vs 23 The desire of the righteous is only good,                                             vs 23 but the expectation of the
                                                                                                                            wicked is wrath
vs 28 But the righteous will flourish like foliage                                             vs 28 He who trusts in his riches
                                                                                                                            will fall
vs 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life
And he who wins souls is wise

vs 31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth                               vs 31 How much more the
                                                                                                                          ungodly and the sinner


Wasn't that an awesome word study!  Not my work, but God's work and His words!  It was so clear to me this time reading it this way (by graphing and charting these two words) what a righteous person is and what a wicked person is.  Of course we all want to say we are righteous before God right?  We all want the benefits and the blessings and the promises of the righteous!  But the Bible says that (Romans 3:10-12) There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.  They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one. 

There is only one Man who lived on earth who was righteous.  And that Man was Jesus.  He lived a perfect life.  He came so that we could be righteous before God.  We don't deserve it.  We can't earn it.  We can't even live it, without His help.  He came so that we could be righteous before God and have a relationship with God.  None of us would have been able to "get to heaven" or "get to God" without Jesus.  It's nothing we did, or can do.  Christ did it all.  He paid the price of our wickedness, our sin, on the cross.

Today, I'm just really thankful for what Christ did for me.  I am such a sinner.  I am wicked.  But, I have a righteous Savior who has made me righteous.  All I have to do is believe, have faith, tell Him I'm sorry for the things I've done wrong, and ask for His help.  I'm a wicked sinner, but I have a mighty Savior.  And when God looks at me now, he doesn't see my wickedness, my sin, he sees the blood of Jesus, he sees the righteousness of Christ.  Thank you God for sending Jesus.

I am righteous only by the grace of God.  Are you?  God wants a relationship with you.  He wants you to get to know Him so that you can live a blessed life full of hope, and love, and joy.  Will your life be perfect? No.  Will you have troubles or trials.  Yes.  But He doesn't leave you.  You are never alone.  Take a look at all the promises of the righteous.

Matthew 11: 28-29 Are you tired?  Worn out? Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."  (The Message)